Everyone knows that it is one of the biggest problems in California, and they happen every year. Wild fires kill many people and it is time to increase the number of people and amount of equipment available to respond to thee fires. Schwarzenegger made a very nice speech before signing a bill to do just that.

Experts are saying that the raising oil prices is not due to the massive spill that happened last week, but rather to the rebounding economy, and therefore is a good thing. This doesn’t stop a large number of people from worrying about the higher prices. Most analysts are still saying however that the prices will continue to rise to over three dollars a gallon before they might decrease. The reason they are fairly sure that the price hikes are not due to the spill is because the incoming oil has not been slowed down by the mess that was created.

We have all seen the videos of the opening day, if you haven’t I suggest you find one, it looked like it was pretty crazy. As for the rest of us who couldn’t afford one, or weren’t willing to wait in line all that long in a line, it looks like we missed out. However, if you didn’t get one because you are a college student and couldn’t afford one, there may be good news for you. You may want to check out this story, because if colleges start giving these to their students this really will be the new wave of the future.

When I was in college I was a member of a food co-op.  The place was called the Gentle Strength Health Food Coop, and until about ten years ago it was the only place to find organic fruits and vegetables, as well as anything else one would want to buy from the grocery store.  The one catch, the one element that made this place different from all the other stores in the city at the time, was that nothing was sold and no products were carried, which contained artificial anything.  For many years, a large portion of the population still bought their fresh produce in corporate markets, unaware that there was an option to pesticides.  The years past and the larger, corporate health food chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s moved into town, and the co-op and its organic market went out of business.  There is a parking lot there now, where the forty year old small store used to stand.

I needed to get back to this kind of life.  I wanted out of the city, and although Trader Joe’s is great, I wanted a real garden, a real farm.  I had heard of the Terhune Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey so I booked a flight and booked a hotel and was off.  During the two generations of Terhunes who ran the farm, it had had only three kinds of fruit trees, apples and peaches with a few pear strewn here and about.  But in 1975 a Pam and Gary Mount bought the orchard and turned it into a farm.  Now everything from fresh herbs to tomatoes to squash and peas can be bought here.  The catch is though…you won’t find your produce polished to a nice shine.  You won’t be hit by the tiny sprinklers as you pick out the best zucchini and you won’t smell dirt.  At the Terhune Orchards and Farm, you “pick your own”.

You pick your produce from the plants and the trees, and you dig your potatoes out of the dirt.  The couple had spent many years in the Peace Corps, and the notion of sustainability is something they brought back with them when they returned to the States.  When traveling through Princeton in the summer time, this is a great place to stop off and pick a basket of strawberries.  For working vacations, many people take a few weeks, live on the farm and work the fields.  In the ever growing corporate world, it gives one peace of mind to know that there are still places to get away from it all, in order to get back to what is real and to what is important.

One way to update the look of your traditional fireplace, is also a great way to increase the efficiency of that fireplace.  Fireplace inserts have become extremely popular for a number of reasons.  They provide a means of insulation, preventing the heat from escaping through the masonry and the walls surrounding the fireplace.  Some of the older designs of fireplaces, are polluting to the environment, and just not that efficient.  This metal shell, will prevent the heat from leaking through, and will also serve to more evenly and effectively disperse the heat throughout the house.  Decorative face-plates add to the design, creating new looks as well as more heat.  Fireplace inserts have been in use since the 1980′s.  At that time, they were not so efficient and had a bad reputation for being un-safe.  They were not connected well and allowed many carcinogens to be released up through the chimney.

Now though, as the designs have improved, the liners go all the way up the chimney, ensuring that the insert stay firmly in place.  The stainless steel means that corrosion will not be an issue, and the structure will remain viable and functioning for many, many years.  This improvement has also had another effect, which is that it drastically cuts down on the level of pollutants.  They increase the performance of the fireplace, creating the heat that a free standing wood burning stove would create.  The hearth mount is another way to increase the heat, and to give the fireplace a whole new design.  These are inserts that extend out from the fireplace, and provide a second hearth so to speak.  Most of the inserts are certified nowadays, by the EPA, so you can be certain that this will not only benefit the performance of the fireplace, and the looks of your home, but they are more effective in the means of protecting the environment as well.

The Seattle Mariners announced that they will celebrate Earth Day. I didn’t know what that exactly meant, so I went on-line to their home page found out what they have planned for the day. I was completely impressed. So, while I was on their official site, I purchased Sports Tickets, which I’ve never done, but just for the Earth Day event.

Before the game even starts the Major League Baseball is sponsoring the first carbon-neutral game. This includes implementing a recycling program for plastic, paper, if necessary, glass and food scraps. The Mariners have reportedly bought ‘green’ power credits which will off-set a sizable carbon footprint when a game is played. The money is supposed to fund a renewable energy facility. There will be wind farms popping up throughout the entire Northwest. Apparently, on ballgame produces over 230 tons of carbon dioxide! I would’ve never guest that, at all. The reason why is one must consider all the flight travel for both teams. All the ground transportation for fans, all the electricity, especially if a game is at night. The energy it takes to dispose and recycle the waste generated for one game.

At the pre-game Earth Day celebration, the CEO of the Mariners admits buying the carbon offsets isn’t enough, but that it is a beginning. Then the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox was recognized for their environmental installation of solar powered trash compactors at Fenway Park. Plus, the solar panels which will be used for all the hot water used at the park. It was really awe-inspiring to actually see the sports industry take on global issues such as taking measures to help with our environment. I would’ve never in a million years would’ve thought that any sports enthusiast even new we were in an environmental crisis. But, I was wrong and happily so.

Wind farms are found across the globe.  What exactly is a ‘wind farm’?  Well, wind farms are large area of land, generally located outside of major cities in the vast plains, atop mountain ranges or hills, along the coast lines, and some are even located out to sea.  On this farms are large amounts of wind turbines, set in rows and capturing enough energy to light entire cities.  A wind turbine now days, has as its prototype, the simple windmills of the Netherlands.  Simple idea really, the blades on the turbines turn when the wind blows.  The turbine consists of the blades, a system of gears that begin to operate as the blades turn, and the energy is sent by the turning of the gears to a generator which stores and utilizes that energy.

Smaller turbines, and singular ones can be used.  The farms are built in areas that are known to consistently be hit with windy conditions.  That is one of the considerations of the wind generated electricity is that in most areas, wind is unpredictable and for the energy to be cost effective and reliable the wind must constantly blow.  Some residents in areas that are scheduled to have these farms constructed have protested those plans, as some say that the large number of turbines are not pleasant to look at.  However, when the general population becomes more aware of just how much this free form of energy could save them each month, their minds will most likely consider it all differently.

The alternative is to build more sites off shore, and while it is more expensive to construct these sites, they generally produce more energy as the wind out to sea blows constantly.  A few concerns surround the off shore farms, as they may interfere with the shipping lanes, and the placement of the sites must be carefully considered as the possible damage to marine life and aquatic birds is not an option.  What is a fact though, is that just one turbine produces enough power to light the one thousand homes over the course of a year.  The possibilities are just overwhelming as the countries of the world move towards a greener more environmentally friendly way of living on the planet, and protecting it at the same time.

I’m so glad that my husband convince me that the best way to go from one spot to another was to call up and hire Cape Town Car Rentals. I thought we could do without the added expense, but the freedom it gave us was well worth the cost. Cape Town offers some fantastic locations for our family in a very relaxed and playful atmosphere. We are always on a constant quest to find child friendly spots offering restaurants with child menus and offers stuff for us adults. We managed to find a few places with which I will share.

We found in Cape Town itself  the Deer Park Cafe’ located in the suburb of Oranjezicht. It was trendy for the local families because the cafe offers deli style food and a large play park. The menu has enough variety for both adults and children. Deer Park Cafe was a wonderful way to spend time with our children and eating some gourmet treats. Then the next day we found the Shoreline Cafe’ located at the waterfront. It was created for pure enjoyment and is right next to the Two Oceans Aquarium. It has an indoor play area with lined AstroTurf and has a big TV screen to entertain the older children while the younger ones are kept busy on the very creative jungle gym and slides.  The food was not as good as Deer Park, but the play area did a good job of tiring out my children. They conked out early that night.

The next morning we headed to the Cape Farmhouse Restaurant in Red Hill. It’s en route to Cape Point, where we were headed for the day. We had an unforgettable family day out. The farmhouse turned restaurant created a very gorgeous space with which to savour a long lunch under vines.  On the grassy play area, geese roamed around. There was plenty of running around for the children. The menu comprised of gourmet delights and a local band played while we ate.  But, the ultimate child friendly venue was the Barnyard. Located in Tokai. It comes complete with farm animals, three jungle gyms and home-style cooking.

We drove to each place in Cape Town with no problems at all. The direction we got were good and our children got to see some of the best sites Cape Town offers. I highly recommend hiring out a car when in Cape Town, it’s worth the expense.

When I first saw a report about how Dubai, apparently running out of shoreline, started to build it’s own artificial man-made island in the shape of a palm tree called The Palm Islands. An artificial island to accommodate the best Hotels and Restaurants Dubai has to offer. It was built with dredgers loaded with sand and tons of intricate and complicated engineering so amazing and spectacular. But, all that complication seems not to be necessary. In Mexico, a person found some broken discarded fishnets and combined them with empty water bottles and some dirt to create was in called Spiral Island. Mexico attempted to annex this island and turn it into a tourist attraction.

It amazes me that if we have the technology to create land, then why do we, the human race, go to war over land?  Instead of waiting for mother nature to slowly create more land via a volcanic activity, which can take hundreds or thousands of years, let just keep adding on to our coast lines. I know, according to Global Warming, that currently we are losing coast line. But, we are an innovative society, we like to build wonderful amazing things. Even the earlier tribes in Peru, a pre-Incan people, got creative and build The Uros, a group of man-made islands that have been in exsistance for hundreds of years. Now, that didn’t take a something like the massive and extremely expensive undertaking of creating the man-made Islands of Dubai.

Tokyo, an island in itself, back in the 1800s built an artificial island called Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. It was built in defense to treats from other countries, but now has developed into a major commercial, residential and leisure site. Why fight over land when we can create Islands in the oceans of the deserts.

Have you ever seen a Shooting Star? Sometimes in the wee hours of the night if your awake and looking out at the night sky you can see a streak of brilliant light cut a blazing trail in the sky. This is what’s called a Shooting Star. Well, it’s really not a shooting star; real stars are sun, like our sun. Giant balls of fiery gas. Shooting stars are actually much much smaller and made of rock or metal or both and are called meteors. They look like stars because they fly through the air so quickly they become hot glowing gas balls due to the friction when entering our earths atmosphere. Most meteors burn up in our atmosphere and never touch the earth, but some meteors are big enough and not burn up completely and hit the earth.

The best places to see meteor shower, or the term I prefer, Shooting Stars, is out in the desert. Some Rajasthan Luxury Hotels give maps to the tourist of where to go in the Rajasthan desert to view some spectacular meteor showers. Death Valley has night tours for the fellow Shooting Star enthusiast. But, if you don’t live in the desert then the best is exploring and finding your own place to watch the nights sky. Pick a spot away from lights, out in the country if possible. A place with a large expansive view of the night sky. Spread osunut a blanket on the ground or on the hood of your car and keep your eyes glued upward; the space invaders will sneak across the sky at a sizzling 40 miles per second where you aren’t looking. But, be patient, and you will be rewarded with a Shooting Star streaking right where you’re looking. Make a wish and that the message these beauties of the night sky brings is to let you know all is good.

Playwright, Salim Al Hatawi, died in April after undergoing heart surgery. After what seemed like a successful surgery, he went home to recover. While he was at home his health began to deteriorate quickly and he was rushed back to the New Dubai hospital, where he passed. He was one of the most popular and significant playwrights of the UAE and wrote over 20 plays in his career. He also wrote two short films, six television dramas and four radio plays. He was just beginning his recovery from heart surgery when his health began suddenly to decline. His work was popular locally and also brought international recognition to the Dubai theatre scene. He will be greatly missed and one can only wonder at how many other great works he might have written had he lived.

Locals and tourists alike would make an evening out of dining in one of the best restaurants Dubai , followed by a theatre performance. One of the gifts of writers is that their work lives on after their death, and he will be remembered in the hearts of those that loved him and also in the continued staging of his work. Al Hatawi died at the young age of 47 and was buried at Al Quoz cemetery. Many of his collogues and other theatre professionals were at the funeral as well as numerous community members and theatre enthusiasts that appreciated his work.

Al Hatawi was interested in social critique and evaluation of its relationship to cultural heritage. One of his consistent themes dealt with social progress and lost heritage. He was aware of contemporary issues and was concerned with the darker side of what progress brought. He looked at the underlying aspects in social classes and injustice. He was trained as an engineer and received his degree from the United States. When he returned to the UAE he explored his interest in the arts and director Omar Gobash encouraged him to write. His first play, Ahlam Masoud was written in 1994 and won the Best Script award at the Sharjah Theatre Festival that year.

One of the most interesting aspects of Ibiza, and something most potential vacationers may want to know, is that the island is toning down its party reputation. While it is not trying to eliminate the night clubs or even reduce the amount of tourists that are attracted to it, the government of Ibiza is interested in highlighting the aspects of the island that are more attractive to families. This will also have the effect of drawing greater international interest to and awareness of the island. Regardless of the reason for the visit, all tourists enjoy the delicious food that is served at the fine Ibiza restaurants.

One of the aspects a nature lover will appreciate about Ibiza is the fact that a large portion of the island’s land is classified as UN World Heritage sites. This means that they are protected from market exploitation and commercial developments. God’s Finger may have had a hand in this, however it is also one of the protected sites. God’s Finger is also the name of an area in the Benirras Bay and contains some of the greatest historical and traditional cultural heritage elements to be found. Another protected location is the area of Ibicenco. It is so beautiful that it draws countless artists and photographers that wish to capture some of its glory and portray the natural beauty of the island.

One of the official measures the government is taking to attract a more diverse population of tourists is to implement a legal requirement that all new hotels be of 5 star status. Tourist will enjoy this increased availability of luxury accommodations before heading out to explore the island. One of the more popular outdoor activities is spending the day at the beach at Es Canar. It is one of the local and tourist favorites among all the beaches on the island because it offers some of the most spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea . It also provides plenty of activity options, including kiking, boating, and swimming.

Many of those who travel to Singapore are concerned about the plans for the construction of a gambling casino in the city. The wildlife and natural reserves, and the rain forest, are in need of protection and those that oppose the casino believe that the money spent on such an institution would be better spent on the protection of the environment. In a city already known for the cement buildings and the over all feel that gives to those coming to the island for the traditional festivals and celebrations, one more big cement building is just going to add to the destruction of what could be a very beautiful city. The Bukit Timah reserve just outside the city, is in the middle of the rain forest, the waters surrounding the island are filled with marine life, coral reefs and endangered species. Many would like to see the city invest in the rich beauty that is natural to the location, and to the treasures that exist. Many visit Singapore on business trips and stay in five star hotels Singapore has built just outside of the downtown area. They state that it is a nice benefit, to be able to get away from the cement city and experience the outdoor aspects of the country, and that by building one more large structure, with the sole purpose of making money is going to further aggravate an environment already in need of protection.

Past travelers state that what brings them to the city, is not the downtown area. And that further, one more casino will not succeed in bringing tourists to the island. Again, it is the beauty of nature that draws people from all over the world again and again. Casinos around the globe are a dime a dozen. One more cement building will not accomplish what one of only two cities that exist in a rain forest can not. If Singapore stopped the building today, they will still have what many large cities in Europe or the United States do not have. A thriving trade center, with big business and the nature of the region all wrapped into one small island. They have been able to combine the aspects of the business world and the beauty of the natural world up to this point. The island is not going to get any bigger. Brings to mind what may happen if the city of Manhattan decided to put skyscrapers in Central Park. Where would one be able to escape to for a bit of peace and the outdoors, when all that is surrounding one is water and cement?

The first electric model of scooters will be available in to Singaporeans in April. While they are not legal for use on the highways and expressways, they will make traveling around the city streets easier and much more cost efficient. The top speed is just about 60 miles an hour, and as they have no gears, noise pollution is expected to be reduced as well. Not only is this perfect for the environmentally conscious consumer, an electric scooter owner will spend just around sixty dollars a year to charge their battery. Distributors have received eight orders for the scooters so far, and expect them to appeal to many on the island once they hit the sales lots in April. Projected numbers for the year are between five hundred and one thousand sold and on the roads by 2010. Zeco Scooters is the company responsible for bringing this green technology to the island, and the director states that alternative forms of motorized transportation have become quite popular over the last few years with hybrid and electric cars being offered at prices that people can afford. Scooter travel around the island is quite popular, and with the cost, and the green vehicle rebate of up to five hundred dollars, these scooters have become a viable and a wonderful option.

In the coming years many parking lots will be equipped with green-lot sections, providing those with the scooters the ability to charge their vehicles outside their homes. Three companies are ahead of the times however. Ikea has installed the lots in two of their stores parking lots, and soon the company INSNEAD and the college, Republic Polytechnic will have their lots completed. Many more lots are scheduled to open and provide charging stations in the downtown business district and the parking lots and garages in Singapore luxury hotels this coming year. The scooters can run for close to 140-150 miles before they are in need of a charge, and to charge a battery takes just under 3 hours. Perfect for downtown travel, and perfect for recharging while at work, school or a night out. All the lots in the companies listed previously, offer the charge at no cost to the driver of the scooter. The support of these major businesses has given the makers of the scooters encouragement, as not only will owning one of the scooters reduce pollution and become soon the most cost effective mode of travel in Singapore, it will be convenient as well.

I am going green with everything that I do. I have been carpooling to work and trying to drive as little as possible. I put this sort of screen thing on the windows to my house to help keep the sun out, which will lower my energy costs. I saw a Next Day Blinds advertising thing that talked about how blinds help keep the cool air inside in the summer and the warm air inside in the winter. Next Day Blinds must have insulated window blinds to help even more.

I am also recycling paper, plastic and glass. I have a couple of receptacles to put this waste in and I just put it out at the curb on trash day. And since I started to do this, my actual trash amount is considerable smaller.

One additional thing that I am doing is to bring reusable bags to the grocery store with me. I keep a couple of these in my car in case I need to stop there after work. These bags cost me about $1.50 each and I use them all of the time. I actually like them better than paper or plastic bags because they have straps that don’t hurt my shoulder and they hold a lot more than the ones from the store—which mean fewer trips from the car to the house.

All of the efforts will pay off for me, you and the entire planet. I am making all of the changes that I can and taking care of small details. They will add up and have a big impact on the world and global warming.